WADING GARMENTS 81 



to run the risk of wading, especially in cold 

 spring water, without them. Many a keen fisher- 

 man has ere this had to pay the penalty of so 

 doing, in after-life, by becoming paralyzed. I 

 myself, at one time, scorned to use waders, until 

 a medical man informed me how great a risk I 

 incurred ; for, as he explained to me, the spinal 

 cord is affected by the continuous action of the 

 cold water on the surface nerves, and (if the 

 practice is persisted in) paralysis is induced. 

 Am I correct in believing that the late Francis 

 Francis was one of the many who succumbed to 

 the latter malady ? If so, it was doubtless 

 hastened, if not brought about, by carelessness 

 in wading, etc. Since I have known better 

 thanks to my friend's advice I have either 

 used waders or forborne to enter the water. 

 Waders may be very dangerous, especially if 

 the fisherman is unlucky enough to slip into a 

 pool and so get them filled, the chances being 

 very much in favour of his difficulties being 

 serious. They are also dangerous in another 

 respect. Being waterproof, they check the per- 

 spiration, and so it is very easy to contract a 

 chill, especially when driving home after fish- 

 ing. Where circumstances admit, it is a wise 

 plan to change one's clothes entirely before 

 starting on the homeward drive. A cottage is 

 generally at hand, and the necessary change can 



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